Wisconsin shoots Michigan basketball out of Crisler Arena, 62-44
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein hangs his head late in the second half of the Wolverine's 62-44 loss to Wisconsin, Saturday afternoon, February 6th at UM's Crisler Arena.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
A season that began with much promise for the Michigan basketball team continued to flail away Saturday afternoon.
On a day the Wolverines honored the 1984-85 Big Ten championship team, they mustered a season-low in points and looked completely confused in a 62-44 loss to No. 16 Wisconsin.
It was U-M's fifth loss in six games.
“Nobody deserves that type of whipping at home,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “But we certainly got one.”
Offensively, Michigan's two best shooters, sophomore guards Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, combined to shoot 0-for-5 from the field. Junior Manny Harris was 4 of 11 shooting and senior forward DeShawn Sims scored only three of his 18 points after halftime.
Even when the Wolverines played well, it didn’t matter. They shot 60 percent in the first half and still trailed by 14 at halftime.
On defense, Michigan (11-12 overall, 4-7 Big Ten) forced four shot clock violations, yet  Wisconsin shot 68.2 percent from the field in the first half and 69.2 percent from the three-point line.
Midway through the first half, with Michigan going through an all-too-familiar scoring drought, Wisconsin (18-5, 8-3) trotted through a 14-0 run that gave the Badgers a 29-14 lead. From there, the game was pretty much over.
“It’s just frustrating, period, with them making all these shots,” Harris said. “And us not being able to make shots and not playing Michigan basketball, that’s frustrating.”
The 2010 version of Michigan basketball is exactly what people saw Saturday - a team looking a bit too slow, a bit too short and a bit too undermanned for Big Ten opponents.
It’s why the Wolverines dropped to under .500 for the first time this season.
Michigan's DeShawn Sims tries to power his way under the hoop against Wisconsin's Rob Wilson during second half action of Saturday afternoon.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
No one hurt Michigan more Saturday than Wisconsin senior guard Jason Bohannon.
The Iowan made multiple three-pointers with the shot clock dwindling toward zero, and then another in the final seconds of the first half.
Sims scored with two seconds left in the first half. Then Bohannon had the ball at midcourt, took two more dribbles in and let the ball fly parallel with the edge of the large block ‘M’ at midcourt in Crisler Arena with less than a second left 40 feet from the basket.
The buzzer sounded.
Bohannon’s shot fell, giving Wisconsin a 40-26 lead.
“It was tough,” Beilein said. “I told the team at halftime let that be the best thing that can happen to you right now because they can’t keep doing that.”
They didn’t - but the Badgers came close.
They shot 53.7 percent for the game and 52.4 percent from the three-point line. They passed with efficiency, and on the occasions they missed shots, they grabbed eight offensive rebounds.
Michigan, meanwhile, folded. The Wolverines missed all nine of their three-pointers in the second half. They had one rebound in the first seven minutes of the second half.
The implosion - the second time in as many games Michigan has been blown out by a team that is deliberate, cutting and rarely blows out anyone - left Beilein frustrated and searching for answers.
“It’s not only a matter of confidence,” Beilein said. “That’s not the only issue here. We’ve got to get longer and stronger and have to shoot it better and get more steals. We have a lot of things we’ve got to do.
“I don’t think it’s confidence as much as we’ve got to get better.”
How, though, is the big question. Michigan has seven games left until the Big Ten Tournament and haven’t showed significant progress since a home loss to Michigan State on Jan. 26. Since then, in some ways, the Wolverines looked like they have regressed.
His team’s mental state isn’t much better.
“It’s not good right now,” Beilein said. “They are young kids that are just really struggling to find success right now. That’s my job as a coach to try and help them get there.
“It’s the story of our season, try to get rid of a tough loss and move to the next game.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
Scott
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 1:36 p.m.
Bum Phillips (NFL Head Coach and Father of Wade Phillips - Cowboys head coach) was asked to comment on NFL Dolphins Head Coach Don Shula. His reply "He can take his'n and beat your'n and then he can take your'n and beat his'n." There are a number of college BB coaches that this could be said about. But lets stick to yesterday's game. I can image Bo Ryan being one of those coaches because every year with "unheralded" talent that is picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten, his teams win and end at or near the top. I have not doubt that UM would be a winning team this year with Ryan as the Coach and Wisconsin would be in the bottom half with Coach Beilein.
oscar
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 1:02 p.m.
I seriously don't know what people see in Beilein. As a true blue fan, I couldn't stand to watch that game. Defense was horrible. I agree I think the players have given up. We have enough talent to stay competitive against Wisconsin at home. The effort in that game was a complete embarrassment. Why are we giving this coach a pass and all over RichRod? To me, they are both in the same position. At least RichRod has recruited. Where are Beilein's recruits? Good thing he had Sims and Harris or the game would have been 62 - 20. We can't keep giving Beilein a pass!!
observer
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 11:18 a.m.
wow who would have thought?/
clarklaker
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.
at some point these wv coaches have to go. david brandon has his work cut out for him, thanks a lot lame duck martin
birch creek john
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 8:07 a.m.
We True-Blue M fans are being asked to test the old adage that it's always darkest just before dawn. Know this, however, John Bienlien is a very good man and an even better coach. He has to find a way to tell the team to just relax and let the game come to them. They are clearly forcing everything. For now, in both football and basketball, a lot of Big 10 teams that were formerly fodder for the Big Blue Machine are having an opportunity to extract a little revenge. In the larger scheme of things, that's probably the way things need to be to restore order to the Universe. It will happen to OSU too.
SteveIce
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 7:24 a.m.
The Badgers take away the Spartans' and Wolverines' manhood in two blowout wins...GO BUCKY!!! Neither Izzo or Beilein had an answer. Bo Ryan owns you boys...
LakeErieMaize&Blue
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 : 12:36 a.m.
They probably DO care but when you can't hit an outside shot,get an offensive rebound,make a lay up,STOP the other team on defense,or hit a three..........all the CARING in the world won't help!
Doug
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 8:47 p.m.
When we lose why do fans always say the team that beat us was so so good. The fact is we are terrible right now. We would make Delaware State look good. Until there is leadership, buy-in, a player over 6-8, and chemistry we will continue to lose. It is sad to. Just as our student section began to fill up for the first time in 12 years we have a team that could care less.
saginaw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
I think that Wisconsin is the hottest team in the B10 right now. We should not over-react to this home loss. This year's team needs to get back on track....
Savalotsprtn
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.
We are so bad!! I wish we were a 1/8th as good as MSU, then we would be decent. I forsee our program continue to fall...sad
Doug
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 7:11 p.m.
Well soon we will have Tim Hardaway's son and Joe D's son. Maybe with a little star power we can win few games. Maybe even win a road game.
Tim
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:51 p.m.
The tougher the opponent the more invisible Manny Harris is. He can shoot lights out and defend like crazy against EMU, UD Mercy or Ball State. Ask him to defend a quality Big 10 player or create his own shot against a quality Big 10 player and this is what you get. He probably won't even get a chance in Europe.
Doug
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
Hey, Breaking news Manny is back next season and we land three 7 footers!!!Oh, wait the seven footers can't past customs, a physical, or acedemics. My hopes for a wining season crushed again.
vi4mi4
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:42 p.m.
uh...some players looked scared today... overcoached, under-motivated, Go Blue! v
vi4mi4
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:38 p.m.
...what is this crap b-line is rolling out on the floor game after game? contract extension?? b-line, rich red, leyland, kuester, swartz...Free Money in Michigan! shameful.. Go Blue! v
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
That's a body blow. The NIT selection committee couldn't have been too impressed with that one. Might have to break out the stories saying Michigan is running out of time to have a post-season, period. After that performance, the Big Ten might decide only to invite ten teams to the conference tournament. You can't play like that on home ice.
Doug
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:25 p.m.
Can anyone explain what has happened to Michigan football and basketball? What went so wrong to where we are looked at as a sure win and a joke. Hopefully David Brandon will get us back on track quick.
chimarathon
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:22 p.m.
WORST. GAME. EVER.
Doug
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 6:14 p.m.
Why renovate when we don't even have a team that wants to play. Make a pacage deal, sell the pistons with the wolverines and move them to Utah!!